Articulated wheeled toy



P 1958 N. w. WASHINGTON 2,852,887

ARTICULATED WHEELED TOY Filed June 18, 1956 INVENTOR. NATHANIEL W.WASHINGTON BY M AM ATTOR N YSi Patented Sept. 23, 1958 ARTICULATEDWHEELED TOY Nathaniel W. Washington, Ephrata, Wash. Application June 18,1956, Serial No. 592,041

3 Claims. c1. 46--201) The present invention relates to an articulatedtoy of the general type shown in my co-pending application Ser. No.258,386, filed Nov. 27, 1951, now Patent 2,751,634 and namely, one inwhich a plurality of block-like link members are pivotally connectedtogether in such a manner that a vast variety of different shapes may beformed. Such a toy is intended for educational purposes to provide ameans by which the imagination of children may be expressed, theindividual articulated members being adapted to be easily manipulated toform animal-like, bird-like, or other shapes.

The present invention aims to provide such a toy which can be readilymade mobile.

Furthermore, the invention aims to provide an arrangement whereby thetoy has detachable wheels which can be readily relocated to orientatethem with respect to whatever shape is formed from the toy.

With yet additional objects and advantages in view which, with theforegoing, will appear and be understood in the course of the followingdescription and claims, the invention consists in the novel constructionand in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a group of the link members of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my invention manipulated into abird-like design.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of my invention manipulated into ananimal-like design; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through a pair of the wheels and therelated links.

Referring to Fig. 1, an individual block-like link 21 is interposed asrespects one end portion between paired links 22, 23, and likewise, asrespects the other end portion, between one end of paired links 24, 25.A second individual link 26 is interposed by one end between the otherend portions of links 24, 25, and may have its other end similarlyrelated to respective ends of another pair of links, and so forth. Allof these links have holes 27 through their opposite ends for receivingrivet-like connector pins 28 which pivotally interconnect the individuallinks between the paired links so that a continuous chain of alternatingsingle and paired links results. The pins 28 are hollow to provide axialthrough-openings 29 and have enlarged heads 30 at each end clamping therelated links together so that there is suificient frictional contactbetween the links to hold them at manipulated angles and positionsrelative to one another.

The purpose of the openings 29 is to selectively receive detachableaxles 31, each of which is adapted to carry a pair of wheels 32 at itsopposite ends. A snug fit between the axles and wheel hubs can beutilized to hold them together while the axle turns within the relatedconnector or the axles can have an enlarged head 33 at one end as shownand receive a cotter 34 or some other locking device at the other end.

In Fig. 2 my invention is manipulated into the design of a bird. Forthis design the pair of wheels 32 and their related axles are mounted onthe hollow connectors at the ends of links 22, 23 as to support the birdand permit it to be rolled along. As a further example, in Fig. 3 theblocks are shown manipulated into the general form of a dog. In thiscase the Wheels at the free ends of links 22, 23 have been moved to anew location so as to give balanced mobile support for the dog.

If desired, the connectors .can perforce: be of two-piece constructionso that the toy may be provided as a package of unassembled blocksthereby affording opportunity for a child to develop his constructiveability in assembling the toy.

The advantages of the invention, it is thought, will have been clearlyunderstood from the foregoing detailed de scription of the illustratedpreferred embodiment. Minor changes will suggest themselves and may beresorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention,wherefore it is my intention that no limitations be implied and that thehereto annexed claims be given a scope fully commensurate with thebroadest interpretation to which the employed language admits.

What I claim is:

1. In a toy, a chain of articulating links having a single said linkalternating with pairs of said links, each articulation comprising aconnecting pin, the connections made by such pins being such as tocreate a sufiicient friction to yieldingly hold the links of the chainin any position in which the same may be placed, most of said connectingpins having a longitudinal opening therethrough, and a pair of Wheelassemblies each comprising an axle and a pair of wheels mounted on theends of the axle, at least one of said wheels of each pair beingdetachable from its axle, said axles being received in two of saidlongitudinal pin openings there being several more of said pins with alongitudinal opening therethrough than the number of wheel assemblies.

2. In a toy, a chain of articulating links having a single said linkalternating with pairs of said links and characterized in that each ofsaid links is quite long by comparison with its width, each articulationcomprising a connecting pin located adjacent a respective end limit ofthe concerned link, the connections made by such pins being such as tocreate, between the pivoted nose of each single said link and the nosesof the paired links which connect therewith, a suflicient friction toyieldingly hold the links of the chain in any position in which the samemay be placed, most of said connecting pins having a longitudinalopening therethrough, and a pair of wheel assemblies each comprising anaxle and a pair of wheels mounted on the ends of the axle, at least oneof said wheels of each pair being detachable from its axle, said axlesbeing received in two of said longitudinal pin openings there beingseveral more of said pins with a longitudinal opening therethrough thanthe number of wheel assemblies.

3. In a toy, a chain of articulating links having a single said linkalternating with pairs of said links and characterized in that all ofsaid links are correspondingly shaped to each define, in plan, an oblongfigure bordered by a base margin and a generally arcuate top margin withthe are which forms the top margin being fairly flat so that the figureis quite long by comparison with its width, each articulation comprisinga connecting pin located in such close proximity to the adjacent endlimit of the concerned link that the nose extremity of said linkprojects to little or no degree beyond the marginal limits of anarticulating link or links when the articulating links are swingablymoved one in relation to the other, the connections made by such pinsbeing such as to create, between the pivoted nose of each single saidlink and the noses of the paired links which connect therewith, asufiicient friction to yieldingly hold the links of the chain in anyposition in Which the same may be placed, each of said connecting pinshaving a longitudinal through-opening for receiving an axle, and a pairof wheel assemblies each comprising an axle and a pair of Wheels mountedon the ends of the axle, at least one of said wheels of each pair beingdetachable from its axle, said axles being received in two of saidlongitudinal pin openings, there being several more of said connectingpins than the number of Wheel assemblies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS MartinJan. 15, 1946 Nerrie Feb. 7, 1950 Bolger Dec. 4, 1951 Washington June26, 1956

